Machine foe making decorative tiles



(No Model.) 2 sheets sheet 1.

J.MOHS MACHINE FOR MAKING DECORATIVE TILES.

No. 566,211. Patented Aug, 18, 1896.

anus PETERS 0a., movoumm. wnsumaron, n. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2-. J. MOHS. MACHINE FOR MAKING DECORATIVE TILES.

Patented Aug. 18, 1896.

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JULIUS MOHS, OF BRANDENBURG, GERMANY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING DECORATIVE TILES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,211, dated August 18, 1896.

Application filed August 23,1895. Serial No. 560,197. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JULIUS MOHS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brandenburg-on-the-Havel, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ha chines for Making Decorative Tiles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the art of making decorative or ornamental tiles, flooring-slabs, entablatures, and similar articles used for making mosaic floors, for flooring vestibules, halls, and the like, and for lining the walls and floors of hallways, bath-rooms, and for many other architectural purposes.

The object of this invention is to produce such tiles, &c., by the use of machinery and to provide apparatus which will readily and expeditiously feed or dust the powdered material used in formingthe designs 011 the tiles, &c., to the proper point in the mold in which said tile is formed. The powdered material employed in this process for dusting into the mold must contain a certain amount of moisture in order to cause the mass to adhere together after the subsequent pressure to which the tile is subjected prior to burning. This causes considerable difficulty in feeding on account of the tendency of the material to become caked or clogged.

My invention is designed to obviate this difficulty; and for this purpose it consists in the means, features, and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

I11 order to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand my invention, I will now describe what I consider the best embodiment of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation, in partial vertical section, of a tile-machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a plan of the stenoil-plate employed therein; Figs. 3 and 3, two elevations of a feed-plunger used in the machine, viewed in directions at right angles to each other; Figs. 4:, 5, 6, 7, and 8, elevations of modified forms of feed-plungers and Fig. 9, a sectional elevation of a somewhat modified form of machine embodying my invention.

By referring to the drawings it will be noted that this machine comprises a mold or form A for the tile, resting on a supporting-bed B, forming part of the fixed frame of the machine. This mold consists of the base a, side pieces co, and the matrix 0. for the bottom of the tile. The recess in the mold is properly subdivided for the various colors forming the design by partitions a a (to. These parts are separable and are so fitted together as to accuratelyimpart the proper shape to the tile. The bed-plate B is provided with the vertical gage-flange Z), which serves to place the mold into accurate alinement or register beneath the stencil or design plate 0, Figs. 1 and 2, which is mounted on the dusting or feed device and adapted to be withdrawn from or put in place over the form with the said feed device, all as will be described below.

The dusting or feeding device is mounted on or secured to the table D, and consists, essentially, of the receptacle E'for the powdered earth. or other material, partitioned oif for the variously-colored powdered substitutes by the partitions e e, &c., the vertical reciprocating agitators F, provided at their bottoms with the feed plungers or studs f 7, &c., and the stencil or design plate 0, whose perforations c are engaged by the reciprocating plungers. As already stated, the receptacle E, which contains the powdered earthen or other ceramic material, is subdivided by the partitions e, the size, form, and arrangement of these partitions being governed by the nature of the design to be produced and the numbers of colors to be employed in the tile material. This receptacle is fastened to the table D, and below it, to the same table, is fastened the stencil and design plate 0, whose perforations care also arranged according to the design to be produced on the tile.

In order to continually agitate and divide the powdered tile material and thus prevent its caking together and promote the steady and rapid feed of the same, I provide the vertically-reciprocating agitators F, one or more for each compartment 6 of the receptacle. These agitators consist of blades of sheet metal or similar material provided with a series of perforations f, which serve to break and cut up the powdered material, in addition to the lower and upper edges of the agitator-blade. To the lower edges of the blades f are secured the rods f encircled by helical springs f secured to the stencil-plate at their bottoms and at their tops to the rods f These rods f terminate in the feed-plungers f which loosely engage the perforations in the stencil-plate O and by reciprocating therein serve to feed or dust the powdered material through them into the compartments of the mold.

The reciprocating motion maybe imparted to the agitators and the feed-plungers connected thereto by any suitable means, 6. 9., the one shown in Fig. 1 illustrative of my invention. As there shown, the blades f are connected with a reciprocating head G by means of bolts 9 or otherwise, the reciprocating head G being guided in its movement by means of sleeves g, encircling standards rising from the tableD and united by a crosshead g at their upper portions. 011 the crosshead g is suitably journaled an eccentric H, which imparts a reciprocating motion to a link h and thereby to the head Gr, to which it is connected by revolving within a strap on the link. Motion is transmitted to said eccentric by means of a pulley h, keyed to the same shaft 72. with said eccentric, and this pulley takes its power from any suitable motor by means of a belt 7L3 or otherwise. Of course this means of producing reciprocating motion is not essential and any other suitable means may be substituted therefor, and in some cases motion may be produced by hand-power.

The feed plungers or studs f may be of many shapes and constructions. In all cases, however, they should only partly fill the perforations c of the stencil-plate G. In Figs. 3 to 8 I have shown several forms of such feed-plungers which may be employed.

Under the construction illustrated in Figs. 3 and 3 the feed-plunger f is made by the lower end of the rod f so as to form a wedgeshaped plunger tapering on all sides and provided on two opposite edges with notches f. In Fig. 4 the plunger consists in a fiat nontapering reduced portion of the rod f again provided at opposite edges with notches f In Fig. 5 it is formed by simply transversely mortising the rod f at f, so as to form two downward-depending curved cutting edges f". In Figs. 6 and 7 the plunger is formed by reducing the lower end of the rod f so as to form prismatic tongues having rectangular or triangular cross-sections, respectively. In Fig. 8 the feed-plunger f consists in a downward-tapering, helical, or corkscrew-shaped portion secured to or formed in the end of rod f Of the forms of feed-plungers thus illustrated, I prefer those illustrated in Figs. 3, 4:, and 8, and find that they carry out the work assigned them in the most successful and satisfactory manner.

In order to permit the mold to be removed after the various compartments forming the design have been filled with the different-colored powdered materials and to permit of a fresh mold being put into place, I provide means whereby the table D may be raised so that its lower portion, including the stencilplate 0, may clear the said mold. In illustration of these means I have represented a device in Fig. 1 which consists, essentially, in an eccentric or cam I, adapted to bear upward against a tongue or arm d, extending out from a vertical depending portion D of the table, the said eccentric or cam being provided with suitable means for turning the same when it is desired to raise the table, c. g., a hand-lever I, fulcrumed att' to a portion of the fixed frame of the machine and con nected by a link t" with an arm 1' connected with the cam or the shaft on which it is mounted. The operation of this mechanism is manifest from the foregoing. Then the mold A has been put into place on the bed B under the dusting or feeding device, the lever I is raised, thus permitting the table D, with the stencil-plate and the other devices mounted thereon, to descend upon and close the top of the mold. Power being now supplied to the pulley h, the head Gis caused to reciprocate through the intermediate mech anism and with it the agitators F and the feed-plungers f During this motion the perforations and upper and lower edges of the blades f serve to cut and comminute the powdered material, and the helical springs f which fit around the rods f very loosely, are not only moved up and down, but caused to bulge outward at every compression, thus going through a lateral motion at the same time, the two motions thus resulting in an undulatory motion, which I have found to be very effective in breaking up the moist pulverized material and checking its tendency to cake and form into compact masses.

The feed-plungers J, as they move back and forth with the perforations c of the stenoil-plate C, serve to prevent the same from becoming stopped up and at the same time aid the powdered material to pass through the same in a continuous stream, and thus to effectively fill the compartments of the mold which form the design.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a modification of my device which is substantially the same as that already described, except in the following particulars: The helical springs f are omitted and the blades f extend nearly to the bottom of the receptacle E. The means for reciprocating the head G are also slightly modified, and the means for raising the table D, with the parts mounted thereon, are also somewhat different, the said table being hinged at c to the fixed frame.

It is manifest that this machine may be employed wherever powdered materials are to be dusted or fed into molds or other receptacles.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a tile-making machine, the combina' tion, with a receptacle for the powdered material having a discharge-outlet, of a coiled spring located within said receptacle, over the outlet and automatic mechanism for intermittently actuating the said spring, substantially as set forth.

2. In a tile-making machine, the combination, with a receptacle for the powdered material having an outlet, of a coiled spring, located within said receptacle over the outlet and automatic mechanism for intermittently compressing the said spring, substantially as set forth.

3. In a'tile-making machine, the combination, with a receptacle for the powdered material having a discharge outlet, of a rod within the receptacle over the outlet, a coiled spring within the receptacle and operated by the rod, and automatic mechanism for reciprocating the rod, substantially as set forth.

4. In a tile-making machine the combination, with a receptacle for the powdered material having a discharge-outlet, and a vertically-arranged perforated agitator mounted therein above the discharge-outlet, of means for reciprocating the agitator, substantially as set forth.

5. In a tile-making machine the combination, with a receptacle for the powdered material having a discharge-outlet, and an agitator formed of a vertically-arranged plate having a series of perforations mounted within the receptacle above the outlet of means for reciprocating said agitator edgewise in the receptacle, substantially as set forth.

0. In a tile-making machine the combination, with a receptacle for the powdered material, and a stencil-plate having openings forming a design and arranged below the reoeptacle of a rod movable in the receptacle and in line with an opening in the stencilplate, and a coiled spring in the receptacle and operated by the rod, substantially as set forth.

7. In a tile-making machine the combination, with a receptacle for the powdered material, and a stencil-plate having openings forming a design and arranged below the receptacle of a rod movable in the receptacle and in line with an opening in the stencilplate, and a coiled spring surrounding the rod and connected thereto at one end, and to the stencil-plate at the other, substantially as set forth.

8. In a tile-making machine the combination, with a receptacle for the powdered material, and a stencil-plate having openings forming a design and arranged below the receptacle, of a rod movable in said receptacle and provided with a feed-plunger located in the openin g in the stencil-plate, substantially as set forth.

9. In a tile-making machine the combination, with a receptacle for the powdered material, and a stencil-plate having openings forming a design and arranged below the reoeptacle of a rod movable in said receptacle and provided with a feed-plunger of reduced cross-section located in the opening in the stencil-plate, substantially as set forth.

10. In a tile-making machine, the combination, with a series of receptacles for powdered material, shaped in accordance with the desired color design, and a stencil-plate arranged below the same and provided with openings forming a design, of a mold having partitions corresponding to the walls of the receptacles, substantially as set forth.

11. In a tile-making machine the combination, with a receptacle for powdered material, a vertically-movable perforated agitator located therein, and a stencil-plate beneath the receptacle, of a rod connected to the agitator and provided with a feed-plunger projecting into the opening in the stencil-plate, substantially as set forth.

12. A mold, and a stencil-plate above the same, in combination with a receptacle or receptacles for powdered material, and a reciprocatin g agitator or agitators arranged within the same, said agitators being provided at their lower ends with feed-plungers for engaging the perforations in the stencil-plate, substantially as set forth.

13. A mold, and a stencil-plate above the same, in combination with a receptacle or receptacles for powdered material, and a reciprocatin g agitator 0r agitators arranged within the same and provided with rods encircled by spiral springs, the said rods terminating in feed-plungers, engaging the perforations in the stencil-plate, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JULIUS MOHS.

Witnesses:

WM. I-IAUPT, CHAS. I-I. DAY. 

